The Red Fox
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Macey S. Brown
American Military University
SCI130 DO13 FALL 14
The Red Fox is a very interesting animal. Their scientific name is Vulpes vulpes. A red foxes scientific classification consists of being in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, carnivore order, and Canidae family. Red foxes can be found in most places in the United States and Canada with an exception of a few places in Texas and Alaska, and in the southwest. They tend to be found in wooded areas and fields. Here in Louisiana you see them on the side of interstates, fields, and in the woods most of the time. Red foxes are typically a reddish orange color with white under its neck and on its chest, they have a bushy tail with a white tip and black ears, legs, and feet. However a typical fox has the previous mentioned appearance some are actually golden, silver, or even black. A kit will reach sexual maturity around ten to twelve months. Red Foxes are considered opportunist feeders. They do not have a set diet; it tends to change with the seasons. They are omnivores and generally feed on fruits, berries, grasses, small mammals, insects, and crayfish. Once a red fox is full it will continue to hunt and store the extra food under leaves, snow, or grass. Red foxes have dens to get out of bad weather, daylight hours, and to have their young. They maintain a home range of only 3.1 to 3.9 square miles. The dens that they make also serve as protection from predators. The red fox will hide in the dens from predators such as wolves. Red foxes range in size from 18 to 33.75 inches from their heads to the end of their bodies and then their tails range in length from 12 to 21.75 inches. On average they weigh between 6.5 to 24 pounds. Red foxes are monogamous animals and begin their reproduction cycle in the winter between January and March. The female fox will make more than one den after they have
Macey S. Brown
American Military University
SCI130 DO13 FALL 14
The Red Fox is a very interesting animal. Their scientific name is Vulpes vulpes. A red foxes scientific classification consists of being in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, carnivore order, and Canidae family. Red foxes can be found in most places in the United States and Canada with an exception of a few places in Texas and Alaska, and in the southwest. They tend to be found in wooded areas and fields. Here in Louisiana you see them on the side of interstates, fields, and in the woods most of the time. Red foxes are typically a reddish orange color with white under its neck and on its chest, they have a bushy tail with a white tip and black ears, legs, and feet. However a typical fox has the previous mentioned appearance some are actually golden, silver, or even black. A kit will reach sexual maturity around ten to twelve months. Red Foxes are considered opportunist feeders. They do not have a set diet; it tends to change with the seasons. They are omnivores and generally feed on fruits, berries, grasses, small mammals, insects, and crayfish. Once a red fox is full it will continue to hunt and store the extra food under leaves, snow, or grass. Red foxes have dens to get out of bad weather, daylight hours, and to have their young. They maintain a home range of only 3.1 to 3.9 square miles. The dens that they make also serve as protection from predators. The red fox will hide in the dens from predators such as wolves. Red foxes range in size from 18 to 33.75 inches from their heads to the end of their bodies and then their tails range in length from 12 to 21.75 inches. On average they weigh between 6.5 to 24 pounds. Red foxes are monogamous animals and begin their reproduction cycle in the winter between January and March. The female fox will make more than one den after they have
Cited: 1. Foxes Retrieved from http://www.hswlt.org/wildlife/close-ups/fox.html on Jan, 02, 2015 2. The Red Fox,2015, Retrieved from http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/redfox.htm on Jan 02, 2015 3. Red Fox Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/red-fox/ on Jan 02, 2015 4. Vulpes vulpes The Red Fox Retrieved from https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/f2013/eidensch_matt/interactions.htm on jan 02, 2015